Heaven and Nature Sing!

Time to close the gate on another productive year ... 2011! With grateful thanks to all who helped to make the 'Kitchen Garden' programs flourish, in many schools in the Parramatta Diocese!

 

 

A Gift from Imelda!

Time to Graduate!

View more presentations from cmaloney2.

Santa visits Nano Cottage!

If there is one jolly big man in red guaranteed to have students entering into conversation, it is Santa Claus ... even if it is a blow up version! Thanks to the generosity of Imelda, (St Michael's Parish Blacktown South) who along with Sylvia, brought joy and gifts to the students who were enjoying their end of year Christmas Party!

Happy Christmas and Holidays to all!

The Call to Life, the Call to be - Reflection by Catholic Earthcare

Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability (PLCfS)

View more presentations from cmaloney2.

Graduation from Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden

NCKG Graduations

View more presentations from cmaloney2.

Tips & Tricks

Kids Teaching Kids

www.bankofideas.com.au – great online newsletter

www.tankworks.com.au

www.freecycle.org/group/au

http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/BlacktownNSWfreecycle/

http://www.freecycle.org/group/AU/   … free of charge. Free community recycling rehoming

www.ngia.com.au – kids grow
http://www.lifeisagarden.com.au/

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/education.htm lists all the competitions available

www.daleysnursery.com.au (fruit trees)

www.perryrunners.com.au (strawberry runners)

www.livewellatschool.nsw.edu.au NSW Dept ED and Communities

www.crunchandsip.com.au  Live Life Well (Crunch and Sip)

www.gardenate.com (also have ipad/iphone app. Aussie site)

www.seedsavers.net

www.diggers.com.au
www.milkwoodpermaculture.com.au 

www.citychicks.com.au  (chickens) also has links to sister sites.

http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

http://www.brewongle-e.schools.nsw.edu.au/

http://www.underthechokotree.com/

http://www.fruvenu.com.au/

http://www.sydneyincrediblegardens.com/

http://www.forestlearning.edu.au/

www.globalwords.edu.au

www.sparklebox.co.uk 

www.teachthis.com.au  

Scoop it – Google

Use www.snapfish.com.au or similar programs, to make colourful books to place in the school library

    

iPhones, iPads and laptops have ‘evernote’ – good to use for  recording audio and visual  data, Lisa Nash at LEX, is happy to run training sessions

Use visuals to compile small readers - something like the PM readers which students can read often

Vegie bags – contact Lisa Brown at Jarara

Grow cultural foods and invite families to give a history of their origins

Invite Costa Georgiadis to speak to students, teachers and parents

‘Kitchen Garden Bus Tour’, take the tour or be a ‘host’ school – contact Clare to make a booking!

Bush tucker plants – contact Erin Rowe erowe@greeningaustralia.org.au

Promote school gardens on school websites and link to Kitchen Garden blog – http://kitchengardensinschools.blogspot.com/label/search/ … then name of school garden e.g SPKG for St Patrick’s Kitchen Garden – contact Lisa Nash for more details!

Posts for the blog i.e. photos and a blurb, can be sent to Clare or a suitable time arranged for a visit

MCain’s annual competition … collect
Barcodes for garden products

Write to another school, the ‘Composting Team’ at St Michael’s, Blacktown South are writing to the ‘Green Thumbs ‘at St Mary’s in North Dubbo – you may need to put up a mail box in your garden!

Seed save and have students set up a stall to fund raise for seedlings and garden products ... this activity is a great way to develop practical language skills and  ... it is especially easy to gather seeds from sunflowers!

Visit other Schools /Early Learning Centres, e.g. Glenhaven State school, Abbotsleigh College, 'Mia-Mia' Macquarie University, to see exciting and practical ways to use the outdoors as a learning space!                                    

Stingless Native Bees

     

AConversation Circle

Source plants with your school's name, e.g. St Patrick's Rose

Put water plants in a wishing well e.g. yellow flag water iris

Plant two olive trees to ensure success!

Look for vegies which grow in strange places and discuss how they came to be there?

Form an environment group such as Nano's Nature Nurturers and invite all interested parties from the school community ... engenders great discussion and ideas!

Keep an eye out for the next Youth Eco Summit and take students for a great day out of hands on learning!